The ARCA Menards Series delivered a spectacle under the lights at Kansas Speedway on September 26, 2025, as the Reese’s 150 unfurled with all the drama, speed, and resilience that stock car fans have come to expect. The 1.5-mile oval in Kansas City, KS, played host to 29 hungry drivers, each determined to etch their name into the season’s narrative. When the dust finally settled after 100 laps and two nail-biting overtime restarts, it was Brenden Queen who emerged victorious, holding off a tenacious Giovanni Ruggiero in a race that saw fortunes rise and fall with every lap.
From the drop of the green flag, anticipation was sky-high. Brenden Queen, piloting the BRC/Folsom Fence Chevrolet, had set the tone early by clinching pole position with a blistering lap of 31.059 seconds at 173.863 mph during qualifying. Right alongside him on the front row was Giovanni Ruggiero in the First Auto Group Toyota, just 0.127 seconds adrift. Leland Honeyman, representing Venturini Motorsports, rounded out the top three qualifiers, all of whom would play pivotal roles as the race unfolded.
As the main event began, Queen got the initial jump, but Ruggiero wasted no time asserting himself. By the end of the opening lap, Ruggiero had pulled even on the outside and powered ahead exiting turn four, quickly opening up a two-second lead. The early going was a showcase of Ruggiero’s pace and control, but as is so often the case in stock car racing, luck and strategy would soon intervene.
With 70 laps to go, the race saw its first major shakeup. Bobby Dale Earnhardt, driving the Copeland Insurance Agency Toyota, brushed the wall at the flag stand after suffering a flat tire, prompting the first caution of the night. This incident triggered a flurry of pit activity, with Ruggiero electing to pit from the lead. Queen, however, stayed out and inherited the top spot—a decision that would prove crucial as the race wore on.
The restart saw Queen and Corey Day locked in a side-by-side battle for the lead, with Ruggiero making quick work of the field to climb back to third by the end of turn two. Queen managed to clear Day and, despite Lavar Scott brushing the wall behind them, began to establish a rhythm at the front. But the cautions kept coming, with Lavar Scott’s blown tire and subsequent impact with the wall at 54 laps to go bringing out another yellow. This caution doubled as the halfway break, giving teams a chance to regroup and strategize for the final push.
Queen took this opportunity to pit, while Ruggiero stayed out, cycling back to the lead. When the green flag waved again, Ruggiero and Leland Honeyman went door-to-door into turn one. Honeyman, pushing hard on the inside, got loose in turn three, allowing Ruggiero to retake the lead. With 25 laps remaining, Ruggiero led Queen by 1.5 seconds, but Queen had slightly fresher tires—a factor that would come into play as the laps wound down.
Drama struck again with 22 laps to go when Corey Day, running in third, went up in smoke and was forced to pit, bringing out yet another caution. This set up a thrilling restart: Queen, aided by a push from Mason Mitchell, surged ahead of Ruggiero and took command into turn one. The battle at the front intensified, but Queen managed to maintain a ten-car-length advantage with just nine laps remaining.
The race seemed destined to finish under green, but with a single lap to go, Andy Jankowiak found the wall, triggering a late caution and setting up an overtime shootout. On the first overtime restart, Queen got the jump while Ruggiero spun his tires, allowing Queen to clear into turn one. Behind them, Thad Moffitt spun, leading to another caution and a second overtime attempt. Once again, Queen was flawless on the restart, and though Ruggiero drove it deep into turn three, he couldn’t quite close the gap.
When the checkered flag finally waved, it was Brenden Queen who crossed the line first, securing a hard-fought victory in the Reese’s 150 at Kansas Speedway. Giovanni Ruggiero, after leading significant portions of the race and showing remarkable pace, had to settle for second. Leland Honeyman claimed the final podium spot in third, followed by Kris Wright and Taylor Reimer rounding out the top five.
“This one means a lot,” Queen said in the post-race interview, his emotions evident. “We had to fight for every position out there, and my team gave me a car that could handle anything thrown at us tonight.”
The race was not without its share of heartbreaks and heroics. Bobby Dale Earnhardt’s early misfortune, Lavar Scott’s tire woes, and Corey Day’s mechanical issues all served as reminders of how quickly fortunes can change in this unforgiving sport. Andy Jankowiak’s late-race crash and Thad Moffitt’s overtime spin only added to the evening’s drama.
Qualifying had hinted at the tight competition to come. Queen’s pole lap was just a fraction faster than Ruggiero’s, and the top five qualifiers were separated by less than half a second. The full field of 29 drivers represented a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, each bringing their own ambitions to the Kansas high banks. Notable performances included Taylor Reimer’s steady drive to fifth and Isabella Robusto’s top-ten finish in the Mobil 1 Toyota.
For the teams and drivers, the Reese’s 150 offered more than just points—it was a test of endurance, adaptability, and nerve. The multiple cautions and overtime restarts forced crew chiefs into split-second decisions, while drivers had to manage tire wear, track position, and the ever-present threat of late-race chaos. The Kansas Speedway’s 1.5-mile layout once again proved to be the perfect stage for high-speed chess, demanding both aggression and patience in equal measure.
With the ARCA Menards Series season entering its final stretch, Queen’s victory at Kansas injects fresh intrigue into the championship battle. Ruggiero’s consistent pace and Honeyman’s podium finish keep them firmly in contention, while the rest of the field will be eager to bounce back in the upcoming rounds. Fans can expect more fireworks as the series heads into its decisive races, with every point and position now carrying extra weight.
As the sun set over Kansas City, the Reese’s 150 delivered a reminder of why stock car racing captivates so many. It’s not just about speed—it’s about resilience, strategy, and the unyielding will to win. For Brenden Queen and his team, the night belonged to them. For everyone else, the chase continues, and the next chapter is just around the corner.